History PunchClockVillain / VideoGames

** Most of the Kig-Yar (Jackals) are just mercenaries who barely even give lip service to the Covenant religion.

** Most of Shinra Inc actually. CrisisCore in particular makes clear that almost everyone in Shinra is just doing a job.

** While he is a definite {{badass}}, the Sniper seems to think of himself this way. "Sniping's a good job, mate! It's challenging work, out of doors. I can guarantee you'll never go hungry...."

* In ''JakIIRenegade'', members of [[BigBad Baron Praxis]]' Krimzon Guard can be overheard discussing (among other things) going to see the races during the weekend, having to do sewer patrol after pissing off a commander, and liking [[HeavilyArmoredMook the new armor]], which is apparently "more comfortable in the crotch."

* Many of the Umbrella Corporation employees who aren't {{Complete Monster}}s, HiredGuns, or raving lunatics in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' are this. Many of the {{Apocalyptic Log}}s left behind by researchers sway between describing what horrific creature's they've spawned or what terrible experiments they've conducted on innocent people, and telling who won the poker game in their downtime or of their families.

* Gafgarion of ''FinalFantasyTactics'' was a mercenary hired [[spoiler:by Dycedarg to murder the princess.]] Gafgarion kills quickly and efficiently with no regard for who, but also shows a distaste for fighting any battle when there's "no money in it." [[spoiler:At one point, he insults Dycedarg for betraying you, Dycedarg's brother.]]

** Pete also counts, as he is fought in a few of the worlds and manipulates the BigBads of most of the worlds. He isn't really evil. Just incredibly selfish. He's only doing these things because Maleficent promised him freedom on condition of his servitude.

* Valara of ''BatenKaitos'' Origins makes it repeatedly clear that she does all the atrocities she does only because "work is work" and is very committed to it. In fact, as seen in the beginning of the game [[spoiler:and the end, should you spare her life]], she's actually fairly friendly when there aren't any orders to worry about.

* Almost ''all'' of the {{Mooks}} in ''{{Timesplitters}} Future Perfect''. They almost feel like real people with lives of their own, and one starts to feel a little guilty for having to kill them. [[spoiler:Upon beating the game, you learn that you didn't actually kill anyone. Thanks to the magic of time-travel, the events that led up to the Timesplitter War never happened!]]

* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', several species in the Covenant fall into this category, although there is little indication of this in-game:
** The Lekgolo (aka Hunters) are starfish aliens who don't really give a crap about the affairs of humanoid aliens, and only joined up with the Covenant because it meant that they would have greater access to space travel (and because if they didn't, the covenant would've [[KillSat blasted them to oblivion]]). They also fight mainly as {{battle couple}}s, making killing them all the more awkward.

* [[TheMole Crimson Viper]] in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' makes it clear that beating the crap out of the world's top fighters in order to assassinate Seth is just business, and she's indicated to be a perfectly friendly person outside the ring who enjoys spending time with her daughter.

* Crimson Viper in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' makes it clear that beating the crap out of the world's top fighters in order to assassinate Seth is just business, and she's indicated to be a perfectly friendly person outside the ring who enjoys spending time with her daughter.

* MetroidPrimeTrilogy: Several [[AllThereInTheManual Space Pirate logs scanned by Samus]] are scathing memos from management warning the underlings to stop trying to keep baby Metroids as pets, [[PetTheDog saving them from being experimented on, or feeding them treats when nobody is looking.]] Considering the fact that Metroids are practically the apex predators of the known universe, SpacePirates being nice to them is an interesting act of compassion... Then again, while the rest of the civilizations have been devoting their resources to exterminating them, the Space Pirats would [[OlympusMons prefer to tame them for their own gains]]

* MetroidPrimeTrilogy: Several [[AllThereInTheManual Space Pirate logs scanned by Samus]] are scathing memos from management warning the underlings to stop trying to keep baby Metroids as pets, [[PetTheDog saving them from being experimented on, or feeding them treats when nobody is looking.]] Considering the fact that Metroids are practically the apex predators of the known universe, SpacePirates being nice to them is an interesting act of compassion.

* MetroidPrimeTrilogy: Several [[AllThereInTheManual Space Pirate logs scanned by Samus]] are scathing memos from management warning the underlings to stop trying to keep baby Metroids as pets or feeding them treats when nobody is looking.

* D'Vil in ''Antagonist'' is an actor working for Evil Productions, which specializes in supplying video game villains. He actually starts fist-pumping when he learns that he's going to be a FinalBoss.

* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', several species in the Covenant fall into this category, although this is not indicated in-game:

** Most of the Kig-Yar (Jackals) are also just mercenaries who barely even give lip service to the Covenant religion.

* Though not indicated in-game, the Lekgolo (aka Hunters) of ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' are this. They're starfish aliens who don't really give a crap about the affairs of humanoid aliens, and only joined up with the Covenant because it meant that they would have greater access to space travel and because if they didn't, the covenant would've [[KillSat blasted them to oblivion]]. They also fight mainly with {{battle couple}}s, making killing them all the more awkward.
** Most of the Kig-Yar (Jackals) are also just mercenaries who barely even give lip service to the Covenant religion. And the Unggoy (Grunts) are just enslaved cannon fodder.
** And the Huragok (Engineer) who are extremely pacifistic and just want to help anyone and anything they come across (they even try to stop the war a few times), even if "help" means "repair this weapon for the grunts of a genocidal military cult".

* SilverSable appears as this in ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'' at the end, when Spidey thinks that she is going to attack him after showing up at a rooftop, but she's not gonna since her contract with Bolivar Trask has expired 10 minutes ago. When Spider-Man is about to question her about what she's doing, Sable interrupts him by claiming "[[JustBusiness business is business]]" before leaving him to get Trask.

* Zevran, of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', says that he's only doing the job he was paid to do when the Warden interrogates him after the botched assassination attempt on the Warden. [[spoiler: Subverted in that he was actually a DeathSeeker who hoped that you'd kill him.]]

* Though not indicated in-game, the Lekgolo (aka Hunters) of ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' are this. They're starfish aliens who don't really give a crap about the affairs of humanoid aliens, and only joined up with the Covenant because it meant that they would have greater access to space travel and because if they didn't, the covenant would've KillSat them to oblivion. They also fight mainly with {{battle couple}}s, making killing them all the more awkward.

* The Pigmask Army from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' comes off as this way. The guys attend rock concerts, visit diners, make pleasant conversation with Lucas and Co., and in general act like people you'd meet at the office. This is further strengthened when an {{NPC}} from your hometown joins the army. He's a pretty nice guy and nothing really changes, Sure, he's wearing the suit but he's still the same person. On the whole the pigmasks come off less as minions of evil and more soldiers in a normal army. While there's a few rotten ones among them, and they've got a terrible leader forcing them to commit some atrocities, most of them just seem like ordinary guys doing their jobs as soldiers.

* In ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' Mooks [[EnemyChatter sometimes comment]] how they wish the war was over so they could stop killing their fellow countrymen. Others mention their families and how they're only in The Royal Army just to get paid.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' one particular Galbadian Soldier worries about losing his paycheck for peeving the presidential body double, as he had wanted the money to buy a wedding ring for his sweetie.
** Laguna and co. are also shown to be Galbadian soldiers [[spoiler: although we found out later that at that point in time the Galbadians were the good guys.]]

** The other pair is Fujin and Raijin, who take on a more serious role, taking control of Balamb Town at one point. They are, however, [[spoiler: later shown to go against the villain at the time, Seifer, and try convincing him to stop what he's doing.]] They are not entirely serious, with Raijin frequently making errors, prompting Fujin to kick him in the shins.

** Considering that one of them [[spoiler: is a soldier who supposedly died during the Mi'hen Mission two years ago]], he's right.

* The Special Forces and Vigoorian Military in the UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden''. At least, it is implied, but since we never get to see things from their perspective the effect is dulled somewhat.

* ''ArmyOfTwo'' does this twice, with the People's Liberation Army pursuing the eponymous two mercenaries for blowing up their very spiffy bridge and [[spoiler:killed a US Senator in the process]], and in the final mission, where Salem and Rios end up fighting [[spoiler:the other mercenary contractors of Security And Strategy Corporation]], who believe they intentionally [[spoiler:killed said US Senator]].
* Various ''StarWars'' video games have this. ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' in particular portrays the Sith troops as Punch Clock Villains, at least on the first planet. When off duty they hang out in a cantina, and on being talked to tell the player character that they're unhappy about being posted on a planet that hates them, also inviting you to a party. When the player character steals a set of Sith armor and talks to the Sith patrolling Taris, they are rhetorically asked "Is there anything more boring than being out on patrol?" Down in the Undercity one of them is defensive and angry about abandoning some of his people to die on a superior's orders, though he does it anyway. [[spoiler:This is probably to enhance the fact that just a few gameplay hours later, Darth Malak destroys the entire planet, killing millions of innocent civilians AND his own troops]].

** Hell, even the [[spoiler:[[BigBad the Reapers]] can count as this given the information]] from [[spoiler:Mass Effect 3's ending]] can count as this. It is revealed that [[spoiler:they , or at least most of them (Harbinger's LargeHam suggests that it has at least a semblance of a personality) don't have much free will per se and are merely machines under [[CreepyChild the]] [[AIIsACrapshoot Catalyst]]'s control; if you free them in the Synthesis ending or replace the Catalyst in the Control ending, they will in fact aid the Council species in repairing the damage they have caused.]]

--> '''Support Reaper''': "Man, today was supposed to be my day off! This sucks. I'm starving! Tell you what, If you can get me a Definitivo Chili Dog, I'll let you through."

* Both Teams in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' are probably Punch Clocks - whether it's hero or villain depends on your perspective, but since the work they do generally involves the destruction of property, and killing people, and a number of them enjoy it, they're probably closer to the negative side. Despite being highly paid, they are hilariously mentally unstable at best... but they probably wouldn't bother if they weren't getting paid an absolute fortune.

* Gafgarion of ''FinalFantasyTactics'' was a mercenary hired [[spoiler: by Dycedarg to murder the princess.]] Gafgarion kills quickly and efficiently with no regard for who, but also shows a distaste for fighting any battle when there's "no money in it." [[spoiler: At one point, he insults Dycedarg for betraying you, Dycedarg's brother.]]

* In ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', [[spoiler:Celleste]] signed up as an assassin for the corrupt mayor because it's a comparatively safe job that puts bread on the table, and also has the great advantage that the police forces are now on your side, instead of trying to shoot you on sight. As a wonderful example of an actual Punchclock Villain, she still hangs out with her friends after work, and drops hints that it really would be better for them to stop antagonizing the oppressive government and starting a more socially accepted type of life.
* ''Every'' character in ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'', even [[spoiler: General Tor, the FinalBoss and supposed BigBad]]. In fact, the only ones who ''are'' evil are the GeneralRipper leading the Tasen, BloodKnight Iosa, and the pyschopathic [[ThatOneBoss Asha]]. The real BigBad is implied to be the Komato government. And that government is ''itself'' a Punch Clock Villain because it's just doing what is demanded of it - exterminating what the shortsighted general public sees only as a threat. [[CrapsackWorld It's a pretty dark game...]]

* Joshua from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' punches out after losing a coin toss.

** Most [[spoiler: UNATCO troops]] as they're unaware that their organization is corrupt to boot.

** In ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', the protagonists are all hired by Jack to help him in his inevitable rise to power. While most of them end up fitting into this label in some way, Athena, Timothy and Claptrap are arguably the closest thing, being mostly decent people forced into increasingly morally-ambiguous situations but are forced to stick around due to either having no real choice in the matter due to being literal property of Hyperion (Claptrap and Timothy) while Athena's professional pride forbids her from walking away until her job as a Vault Hunter is officially done.

** Tom Hicky in VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII is revealed to be one of these as he's assassinated. Unlike other examples this makes him come off ''more'' despicable compared to the other villains who are [[WellIntentionedExtremist genuinely dedicated to the Templar cause.]]

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2'', the security chief of [=SaintLogic=], Vince, is a terrifying figure in full-plate armour with glowing blue eyes...who is disturbingly nice due to being this, not going out of his way to hinder Snake any further than his job requires, talking to him in a chatty and informal manner, and siding with him occasionally when he feels his job is asking him to go too far. Because of this, he's a soft target for [[PsychoForHire Venus]], who is far less nice a person than he is.

** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' also has [[spoiler:The Boss]] filling this role. It turns out that [[spoiler: she defected to the Soviets and was the antagonist for most of the game]] solely so that you could kill this 'defector' and be the hero.

** On a greater scale we have, well, pretty much the entirety of the NOL, really... Sure, on the one hand, the NOL is a global, opressive, authoritarian organization that heavily regulates society and imposes death sentences on anyone who opposes them or wields [[{{Magitek}} Ars]] [[FunctionalMagic Magus]] without proper authorization. On the other hand, several of the more sympathetic playable characters in the game are/were associated with it, and almost everyone within it are just commoners who are just [[WellIntentionedExtremist trying their best to uphold order and safety]] in a CrapsackWorld that is already teetering on the edge of entering an age of complete anarchistic chaos and war. Also, Ars Magus? They are [[ArtifactOfDoom fucking dangerous]] ''at best'', both to those who wield them and those around the person who wields them, so it's pretty damn reasonable to heavily restrict the usage of them... All in all, the NOL would probably be a pretty okay organization ''if'' it weren't for the fact that it's ultimately run by monsters.
* Plenty of them in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' as not everyone is that much concerned with the Devil Gene business. The Williams sisters (Nina and Anna) takes any job and wouldn't expand it to personal lives, their aim is just to settle their sister rivalries. Eddy Gordo is only in Jin's army to get the cure for his sickly master. Bruce Irvin is a good friend of Kazuya Mishima and usually serves him well, but outside his servitude, he's a FriendToAllChildren and helps them out when he can.
** The best example would be Craig Marduk. Yes, he ''did'' kill Armor King, but not out of malice or service to someone who wanted AK dead; it was just a heated fight where something went horribly wrong. Despite the incredible rarity of a Tekken competitior killing another Tekken competitor (not even Nina once succeeded, and she's getting ''paid'' for that!), Craig has never once crowed or threatened someone else over it. He wants to be the #1 MMA bruiser in the world, and if he have to get by a vengeful wrestler to do it, that's just another day at the office.
* Valara of ''BatenKaitos'' Origins makes it repeatedly clear that she does all the atrocities she does only because "work is work" and is very committed to it. In fact, as seen in the beginning of the game [[spoiler: and the end, should you spare her life]], she's actually fairly friendly when there aren't any orders to worry about.
* In VideoGame/TheSims your character can choose Criminal as a career choice. It's recommended for [[CardCarryingVillain those who have the "Evil" trait]], as they actually [[ForTheEvulz enjoy it]].

* Billy Kane of the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' series is a criminal primarily because it's easy money. He never holds any actual malice for Terry Bogard, and his loyalty to Geese Howard is because of the massive amount of respect Billy holds for the man. But at the end of the day he remains Geese's right-hand man and commits crimes so he can support his mother and little sister.
* The entire point of ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' is that you're a small part of an incredibly large bureaucratic nightmare. Doing the right thing - not splitting up families, letting people through for medical procedures, or keeping out homicidal maniacs with perfect papers - is incredibly hard while also feeding, clothing, and housing your own family.
* Almost ''all'' of the {{Mooks}} in ''{{Timesplitters}} Future Perfect''. They almost feel like real people with lives of their own, and one starts to feel a little guilty for having to kill them. [[spoiler: Upon beating the game, you learn that you didn't actually kill anyone. Thanks to the magic of time-travel, the events that led up to the Timesplitter War never happened!]]

* In ''VideoGame/ApertureTagThePaintGunTestingInitiative'' we have [[spoiler: Nigel, who's really just doing his job.]] He takes a genuine interest in the player and is glad to see them succeed, but he has no qualms about throwing test subjects into potentially lethal test chambers and [[spoiler: sending a test subject to their guaranteed death by incinerator at the conclusion of testing.]] If the player manages to thwart this, however, he seems very happy to be able to see them off from the facility.

* Of all the factions in ''{{VideoGame/Destiny}}'', the Cabal best represent this. The Fallen attack you as pirates or rebels desperately trying to claim the Traveler and City, while the Hive and Vex are indirect agents of [[BigBad the Darkness]]. Contrastly, the Cabal in the solar system are merely a military regiment from a nearby empire who have been sent to annex some technically unclaimed worlds. They don't have any real grudge with humanity and their allies (they attack you because you're technically infringing on their territory) and they have no link to the Darkness (in fact they may be running from it, [[NotSoDifferent just like the humans]]). They're not even a unified force; arguments and disagreements in the regiment are common, not all of them feel particularly loyal to the empire, and many of them are only fighting so that they can just get it over with and go home, as the empire's rules hold that [[BadBoss battalions can't return until they're victorious or ordered to retreat by the empire]].

** Pete also counts, as he is fought in a few of the worlds and manipulates the BigBads of most of the worlds. Justified in that the only reason why he's doing this is because Maleficent promised him freedom on the condition of his servitude.

** Pete also counts, as he is fought in a few of the worlds and manipulates the BigBads of most of the worlds.